Episode 3: Bravery, Working in a Preschool Setting and Guest Katy Hutchings
Licensed professional counselors Johanna Dwinells and Sarah Bryski-Hamrick are slowly demystifying and destigmatizing therapy, one episode at a time. Recording and living in the Philadelphia area, Johanna and Sarah work to make therapy feel more accessible, with quirky, sometimes intrusive questions that reveal the human side of healthcare professionals, all while they overcome their own anxieties and internalized stigmas.
TW: None.
Note - There is a buzz in the audio during the interview portion of the show. We apologize that we could not remove it but hope that you listen because we think that the interview is interesting and important.
Episode summary: Johanna and Sarah discuss their investment in TV shows, touching briefly on the challenges of discussing race and politics with their white parents. They read about the important figures in the development of early childhood education as we now see it, as well as modern music therapy. Music therapist, professional vocalist, and their former classmate, Katy Hutchings discusses the benefits of music therapy in child development, live music with kiddos during COVID-19, what self-care looks like while raising two children under 5, and how her performance background steered her towards becoming a board certified music therapist.
Guest Bio: Katy Hutchings is a board certified music therapist, working primarily with early childhood populations. Having received her Masters in Music Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University, she works full time at Young Children’s Center for the Arts in South Philadelphia as one of the staff music therapists and as the director of Kreative Kids which offers music classes for families with young children in the area. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Katy came to the East Coast to attend Haverford College and then received her first Masters in Voice Performance at Temple University. After attempting to make it in the opera world for several years, Katy decided music therapy was a better career path. She still sings professionally, mostly as the soprano section leader at a church, a professional caroler during the holidays, and an actress in local musical theater productions. Katy is also a mom of two kids, a four year old and a nine month old, and is passionate about maternal and family mental health.
Sources for today’s History Lesson: Blog post “History of Early Childhood Education: Then and Now” by Steven Bonnay; www.k12academics.com; www.musictherapy.org; www.uphs.upenn.edu; wikipedia.org; kids.kiddle.co;
Resources:
Laurie Berkner - laurieberkner.com, music for children and their families
Kreative Kids Music - www.kreativekidsmusic.org
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